Puerto Rico Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys

What is at Risk if You are Being Targeted for a Federal Crime in Puerto Rico?

All of the federal crimes listed above carry severe penalties under federal law. While this minimally includes fines and imprisonment, a federal conviction can have various other direct and indirect consequences as well. When our federal lawyers evaluate your case, we will assess the penalties that are on the table, and we will advise you regarding the results that we believe we can achieve on your behalf. To date, we have been successful in helping the majority of our clients avoid charges entirely; and, in the limited number of cases in which our clients have been charged, we have achieved favorable results ranging from pre-trial dismissals to not-guilty verdicts in federal court.

What is at risk in your case? Depending on the specific charge (or charges) involved, potential penalties and other adverse consequences may include:

1. Statutory Fines

Fines for individual federal offenses range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the fines imposed for corporate defendants often double those imposed for individuals. However, in federal cases, prosecutors will often pursue multiple counts of multiple charges, and this can easily add up to create exposure to millions of dollars in statutory fines.

2. Restitution, Recoupments, and Other Financial Penalties

In addition to fines, federal criminal defendants will often face liability for restitution, recoupments, and other financial penalties as well. For example, in cases involving healthcare fraud, providers accused of overbilling Medicare or another benefit program may be ordered to repay the overbilled amounts. Likewise, individuals and corporate entities convicted of securities fraud may be required to pay restitution to their victims.

3. Federal Imprisonment

Imprisonment is a potential sentence for most white-collar federal offenses, and healthcare providers, investment advisors, corporate executives, and others are often shocked to learn that they are at risk of spending years or decades in prison. However, this risk is very real; and, in criminal cases, one of our top priorities is fighting to keep prison time off of the table.

4. Federal Probation

When prison time is a possibility, one potential defense strategy is to seek probation in lieu of incarceration. When we represent a client in plea deal negotiations with prosecutors and at the sentencing stage in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico located in San Juan, we seek probation whenever it is in our client’s best interests to do so.

5. Loss of Federal Eligibility or Registration

Another major consideration for government contractors, healthcare providers, registered and exempt corporations, and various other individuals and entities is the risk of losing federal eligibility or registration. For example, in cases involving allegations of Medicare or Medicaid fraud, providers can be at risk of losing their program eligibility. Loss of DEA registration, loss of SEC registration, and loss of eligibility to bid on government contracts are potential consequences of federal convictions as well.

6. Professional Discipline

For licensed professionals in all industries, facing a federal criminal investigation can also have the ancillary effect of triggering disciplinary action. Professional ethics rules are often stricter than federal criminal statutes, which means that professionals can face license suspension or revocation even if they are not ultimately convicted of a federal crime. Many licensing boards also require professionals to self-disclose investigations regardless of whether or not the allegations involved ultimately rise to the level of federal criminal conduct.

7. Reputational Harm

Beyond these direct and immediate consequences, professionals, executives, and business owners can also face severe reputational harm simply as a result of being identified as a suspect in a federal criminal investigation. In many cases, the DOJ will issue press releases announcing charges, and word of criminal allegations can quickly spread through the news and social media. In addition to fighting to protect our clients against federal penalties and professional licensing action, we also work with the federal authorities handling our clients’ investigations to keep matters confidential for as long as possible.

Are you accused of a federal crime?

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